(MENAFN) Prisoners' rights group CNLD said that five people were condemned on Tuesday, June 23, in Algeria to between six months and a year behind bars after participating in a barred protest.
Fourteen people, the youngest aged 19, appeared in law court after being taken in for interrogative in Tizi Ouzou, in the country's northeast, after an anti-government protest on Friday.
All were accused of participating in an "unarmed gathering". Two other charges, including damaging of property, were dropped.
The CNLD said that one of the accused was punished for a year in prison, effective immediately, for carrying a knife.
Two others were sent to prison to six months and two more to a year behind bars pending appeal, while nine others were freed.
The prosecutor had required five years' prison for the entire suspects.
Aissa Rahmoune from the defense team told AFP before the judgment that the regime "continues its repression of peaceful protesters".
Videos shared on social media showed protests in support of the suspects close to the court in Tizi Ouzo ahead of the trial.
Algeria's anti-government demonstration movement known as the Hirak commenced in February 2019.
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